Some Forms of Cardiac Care Surgery Are Growing – Some Are Contracting – Consider Risk
iData research reports that by 2019 over 900,000 heart surgeries were performed every year (June 1, 2020). In 2005, it was about 700,000. Yet, simultaneously, since the turn-of-the-century, more hospitals are offering coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgeries, but fewer CABG surgeries are being done overall. Some have expressed concern about this. If more hospitals are offering the specific surgery, but fewer of these procedures are being done, the concern is that outcomes may not be as good, because expertise might be diminishing with fewer patients being seen.
Meanwhile, less invasive surgeries are increasing. Avoiding risk plays a role in this shift.
The American Heart Association in their journal “Circulation” acknowledges that until the Second World War, almost no cardiac surgeries were attempted because it was believed that it was too difficult, and the heart was too sensitive to endure surgery. But the necessity of trying to save soldiers rather than letting them die led military surgeons to take the risk, and thereby become cardiac surgical pioneers for the rest of us!
The early church at Antioch in Syria had a wealth of cardiac care. The church was vital and healthy. It dawned on them that they should take their cardiac care out beyond the confines of Antioch. Interestingly, this all started with persecution. Acts 11 explains that after Stephen was martyred in Jerusalem, many early Christians left the city, fearing for their lives. In Antioch, the church also started to witness to Gentiles which was, of course, easier to do with a largely Gentile population as compared with Jerusalem. Because of the growth of the Antioch church, (“the hand of the Lord was with them”), the apostle sent Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch. And because St. Paul (who had since been brought to faith after being part of the martyrdom of Stephen) was known to Barnabas, Barnabas sought Paul out to come to Antioch. Together they helped to nurture faith and create a mission zeal within the congregation. That congregation was the first to actually fund “foreign missions.”
After their successful first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas disagreed about who would join the second mission journey. This dispute could not be resolved so they doubled the missionaries and went different ways. Paul eventually made it to Europe. And in the city of Philippi, near a river bank, he shared the gospel with a woman named Lydia. Acts 16:14 says, “A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”
More apostles were reaching more people, but we note from the text that it was the Lord Who was “opening” Lydia’s heart. The Antioch church took a risk, but they really risked so little. What did they have to lose? They initially shared the Gospel with a brand-new cohort of listeners. God blessed that. But in Philippi they met persecution. Paul was imprisoned; yet, even in prison, he continued to do cardiac care. That, too, was blessed as he shared the Gospel with the jailer. Lydia, who no doubt had wealthy clientele given her business, had a choice to make after Paul was imprisoned. Should she potentially risk a tarnished reputation by accepting him and supporting him? Again, she offered help, knowing the risk.
Prayer: Lord, You are the heart surgeon Who opens hearts. We just take minimal risks to save lives. Bless our heart that it may be willing to take the small risk of sharing Jesus, knowing that You wield the scalpel of the Word. In Your Name we pray, Amen.